Windmill.



M. C. NIXON.

WINDMILL.

APPLICATION I'ILBD JAN. 23, 1904. 1,020,924. Patented Mar. 19,1912.

. 2 SHEBTS-BHBET 1.

M. G. NIXON.

WINDMILL.

APPLGATION FILED JAN. 23. 1904.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.`

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES C. NIXON, OF PERU, INDIANA.

WINDMILL.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, l/[osns C. NixoN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Peru, in the county of Miamiand State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Windmills, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in wind mills; the objects beingto provide for an adjustment whereby the stroke of the pump-rod may bevaried in length; to provide a suitable pull-out mechanism; to provide asafety device that will afford relief when abnormal resistance occursand other objects which will hereinafter appear; and is shown,preferably, in the construction hereinafter described, which may bevaried without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, with the frame partly cut away, andshowing a part in section; Fig. 2 is another elevation of the same atright angles to Fig. 1, and including' a part of the tower, which isshown in section; Fig. 3 is a top plan of Fig. 1, and showing also aportion of the vane hinge and its connection with the pull-out andgoverning mechanism; Fig. 4 is a plan of the anti-friction rollersarranged in their retaining member; Fig. 5 is a detail plan of the lowerarm of the bell-crank showing the position of the breakable plate; Fig.G, is a detail view showing a modified arrangement of the cam, followingmember, and pumprod; Fig. 7, is a detail view showing a modified form ofcam; Fig. S, is a detail view showing a modified arrangement of pull-outlever, spring, and connection with the vane; Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of the vane shown in connection with the vanehinge.

Similar numerals of reference indican7 corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and referring now to the same: 1 is the main frame,and 2 is the tower upon which the main frame is movably mounted. Thetubular mast 3 is fixed in the end of the main frame and extends downthrough the chair -1 and step 5, and has a rigid annular flange 6 nearits lower end which rests upon a series of rollers 7 interposed betweensaid flange and step. The said rollers are journaled upon pins 8 whichare arranged in a Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 23, 1904.

Patented Mar. 19, 19112.

Serial No. 190,278.

retaining member 9. The said member consists of an inner and an outerring, 10 and 1l, joined by webs 12 which intervene said rollers.

In the main frame 1 is journaled the camshaft 13 upon which is rigidlyfixed a grooved cam lil and gear 15. The power shaft 17 is also mountedin the main frame and has fixed thereon a pinion 1S which meshes withand drives the gear 15, thus actuating said cam. A following member 19,having a sleeve 20, is carried by a shaft 21 which is mounted in themain f `ame, `and a roller 22 is mounted upon the side of the lower endof said following member and ranges in the groovcd cam 14, whereby saidfollowing member is actuated when the cam is in motion.

A bell-crank or lever 23 is carried by a shaft 24 which is mounted inthe arms 25 of the main-frame, and is connected to and actuated by thefollowing member by means of a link 2G. A series of pin holes 27 is madein said following member, and a like series of holes 2S is made in theupper arm of said bell-crank, each affording means for connecting therespective ends of said link. The pump-rod 29 is connected to the lowerarm of said bell-crank and depends therefrom through the mast It isobvious that when the cam .is revolved the following member will beswung upon its shaft 21, and that the bell-crank will be oscillated uponthe shaft 241 to an extent according to the adjusted positions of theconnecting link 26 respecting said following member and bellcrank.

Example: If the link is engaged in the uppermost holes 27 and 2S, theextent of the movement of said bell-crank, and pump-rod, will be shortas compared with that when said link is engaged in the lowermost holesof said series. It is also obvious that the bell-crank and link may beeliminated, and the following member 19 may then be removed from theshaft 21 and, instead, mounted upon the shaft 24, so that the pump-rodmay be connected directly to the following member by engagement in theholes 27 thereof, thus effecting another adjustment, as shown in Fig. 6.

Upon the shaft 211 is also mounted a pullout gear 30 having an operatingarm 31 which extends to a point over the mast, and a lug 32 projectsfrom the lower part of said gear and extends to a point beneath theadjacent arm 25 of the main frame. This lug serves as a stop to limitthe upward movement of the said arm 31 and corresponding movement ofsaid gear. A spring 33 is interposed between the said lug and arm 25,and is attached to one or the other to hold the same in position, andserves as a cushion in stopping. the movement of the gear.

A pinion 34 is mounted loosely upon a stud 35 which projects upward froma boss 36 on the end of the arm 25 adjacent the gear 30, and the teethof said pinion mesh with those of said gear 30. An arm 37 extendshorizontally from and moves with said pinion, and has a connection, bymeans of a rod 33, with the vane hinge 39, the latter being secured tolugs 40 which project from the main frame. The vane 60 is rigidlyattached to the hinge 39 by a suitable stem 61 and brace 62. A tensiondevice 41, having an open bottom, is mounted revolubly upon the stud 35and rests upon the top of the pinion 34. A spring 42 is coiled aroundsaid stud with its lower end secured to said pinion, and its upper endfixed to said device. An anchor plate 43 is rigidly mounted upon thestud 35 with its lower face next the top of said device, and a pin 44 isinserted through an opening near the outer edge of said plate into oneof the series of holes 45 in the top of said device. The purpose of thesaid plate and pin is to retain the said device in adjusted positions.

Example: By turning the device, the tension of the spring 42 willthereby be increased or relaxed according to the direction in which thedevice is turned, and the tendency of the pinion to carry its arm 37toward the vane will therefore be made greater or less as desired. IVhenthe spring has thus been adjusted to the proper tension, the said pin 44is inserted through the anchor plate into one of the holes 45 in saiddevice, thereby holding the same in the adjusted position.

The arm 31 of the pulleout gear has a wire 46 attached to its end, whichleads down through the tubular mast, and is for the purpose of operatingsaid gear. By pulling the said wire downward, the gear 30 will drive thepinion in the direction contrary to the tension of said spring, and thevane will thereby be drawn toward the arm 25 of the main frame; and whenthe wire is released the said spring because of its tension, will drawsaid pull-out gear, pinion, and vane to their respective normalpositions.

I have indicated in the drawings a weighted lever 50 extending from thegear 30. This will in eiect have a tendency to cause the vane to remainin normal position, and may be employed to assist the spring or be usedin substitution for said spring, or be eliminated. It should be noted,however,

that the power shaft upon which the windwheel is mounted, is arranged inthe frame to one side of the axis of rotation thereof, and thereforewhen sufficient wind pressure is exerted against the wheel., said framewill turn upon its bearing and carry said wheel out of "the wind. Thevane, of course, re mains in line with the course of the wind, andtherefore the spring is actuated, and the tension thereof increasesdirectly with the angle to which the frame is moved respecting the vane.Therefore, because of the increasing resistance of said spring as thewheel is carried from the wind, a more constantv speed of the wheel isattained and a more uniform power is consequently ob tained therefromthan where only a uniform or decreasing resistance is afforded to holdthe wheel to Windward.

In Fig. 3 is shown in dotted outline upon the power shaft 17, a portionof the hub 47 of a wind wheel, and also, interposed between the endof'said hub and the bearing 48 of said shaft, is likewise indicated aretaining member with rollers 49 which is, in structure, the same asthat shown in Fig. 4, and hereinbefore described. This is intended toreduce the friction incidental to the end thrust of the shaft 17 due tothe pressure of wind against the wind wheel.

It will be noted, in Fig. 1, that the grooved cam is of such form aswill cause a differential motion to be imparted to the following member.This, of course, may be substituted by another form of cam which willimpart a uniform motion, if desired, such, for instance as shown in Fig.6.

lVhile I have shown a power shaft, cam, and following member as thedriving mechanism, and have shown an intervening lever between saidmechanism and pump-rod, which is, in this instance, represented as abell-crank, I do not wish to conne myself to the particular drivingmechanism here shown, nor to the bell-crank. The idea of the inventionis to effect an adjustment of the lengt-h of the stroke of the pump-rodby the use of a lever intervening the pump-rod `and driving mechanismwith an adjustable connection between the latter and said lever.

As a means of preventing the driving mechanism from being subjected toabnormal strain, due to such causes as the freezing of the pump, I havemade the lower arm of the bell-crank in two sections: The arm 54 isintegral with, and forms a part of the hell-crank proper, and anextension piece 51 is connected to the arm 54 by a pin 55. The saidpiece is held rigidly in line with the arm 54 by means of breakableplates 52 which are secured respectively to the upper and lower sides ofthe arm 54 by a bolt 53, the latter extending through the end of saidarm and plates, and the edges of said plates extend respectively overand under and rest against the adjacent arms of said extension piece. Itis obvious that when undue resistance hinders the movement of thepump-rod, the plates will become broken and the arm 54 of saidbell-crank may then move between the arms of said extension piece, thusallowing the driving mechanism to run freely without actuating thepump-rod. While I have shown this safety device as arranged inconnection with the bell-crank, I do not wish to confine myself to thatpart-icular form of construction or arrangement. The idea is tointerpose a safety device for this purpose between the source of powerand the pump.

I have shown the spring 42 as having connections with the main frame andpinion 34. This, however, is not material so far as the said connectionof the spring to the pinion is concerned, since the same result would beobtained by making this connection with the pull-out lever instead. Inthis event the arm 37 and pinion could be eliminated and a suitableconnection made between said lever and vane. As an example, a pull-outlever 56, shown in Fig. 8, may be mounted upon shaft 24, and a spring 57arranged in connection with said lever and the arm 25 of the frame tohold the lever in normal position: and the vane 39 may be connected witht-he arm 58 which extends from said lever, by means of a rod 59, so thatwhen the lever 56 is moved, the vane will accordingly be actuated.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a wind-mill having a driving mechanism; an oscillating levercomprising a plurality of parts and having suitable connection with saidmechanism to be actuated thereby; and a safety device arranged tonormally hold the parts of said lever in working connection and adaptedto relieve the strain when abnormal resistance occurs.

2. In a wind-mill having a driving mechanism; an oscillating levercomprising a plurality of parts and having suitable connection with saidmechanism to be actuated thereby; and a safety device arranged tonormally hold the parts of said lever in` working connection and releasethe same when under abnormal strain.

3. A wind mill comprising a driving mechanism; a lever having connectionwith said mechanism to be actuated thereby; a piece attached to saidlever; a safety device arranged to normally hold said lever and piecein, working connection; and a pumprod in connection with said piece.

4. In a wind mill, a main frame movably mounted and carrying awind-wheel and vane; a stud extending from said frame; an arm movablymounted upon said stud and having a connection with said vane; a tensiondevice adjustably mounted upon said stud; a spring in connection withsaid arm and tension device; and an anchor plate fixed upon said studand having in connection therewith means to engage and hold said tensiondevice when adjusted.

5. In a wind mill, a main frame movably mounted and carrying a windwheel and vane; a movable arm mounted on the frame and having a rodconnection with said vane; a tension device in connection with theframe; and a spring connecting said arm and tension device.

6. In a wind mill, a main frame movably mounted and carrying awind-wheel and vane; a movable arm mounted on the frame and having a rodconnection with said vane; a tension device in connection with theframe; a spring connectingl said arm and tension device; and means toadjust said tension device.

7 In a wind mill, a bell-crank arranged in connection with suitabledriving mechanism; an extension piece connected to one arm of saidbell-crank by a pin; breakable plates arranged in connection with saidarm and extension piece to hold the latter normally rigid with theformer; and a pumprod attached to said extension piece.

8. In a wind mill, a main frame; a revoluble grooved cam mounted in saidframe; a swinging following' member arranged in said frame and having aconnection with said cam to be driven thereby; a lever carried by saidframe, having a connection with said following member to be actuatedthereby; and a pump1'od attached to said lever.

9. In a wind mill, a movably mounted main frame carrying a wind-wheeland vane; a pull-out gear suitably mounted in said frame; a pinionmeshing with said gear; and an arm extending from the pinion and havinga rod connection with said vane to actuate the same.

10. A wind mill comprising a driving mechanism, a lever havingconnection with said mechanism to be actuated thereby, a pump-rod, and asafety piece connected to said lever and pump-rod and forming aconnection between them, whereby the oscillation of said lever willnormally drive the pump-rod and yield under abnormal strain.

l1. In a wind mill, a main frame; a revoluble cam suitably mounted insaid frame; a following` member suitably pivoted to the frame and havingconnection with said cam to be driven thereby; a pump-rod; and a leverhaving connection with said pump-rod and following member to be actuatedby the latter.

l2. In a wind mill, a main frame; a driving shaft mounted in said frame;a suitable following member' pivoted to the frame and havino' connectionwith the shaft to be actuated tliereby; a pump-rod; and a lever havingconnection with said following member to be actuated thereby.

13. In a wind mill, a main frame; a driving shaft mounted therein; afollowing member pivoted to said frame and having suitable connectionwith the said shaft to be actuated thereby; a lever in'conneetion withthe frame; and a pump-rod connected to said lever to be actuatedthereby.

14. In a wind mill, a main frame; a driving shaft mounted therein; afollowing member pivoted to said frame and having suitable Connectionwith the said shaft t0 be actuated thereby; a lever in connection withthe frame; suitable adjustable connection between said lever andfollowing member;

` and a pump-rod connected to said lever to be actuated thereby.

15. Inawindmill,adriving mechanism; a lever having connection with saidmeohanism to be actuated thereby; an extension piece pivotally attachedto said lever; a safety device normally holding said lever and extensionpiece in working connection; and a pump-rod in connection with said eX-tension piece.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' MOSES C. NIXON.

Vitnesses W'ALTER G. BURNS,

C. J. Losn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

